When you meet Elizabeth Hurley, one of the first things you think -- after you manage to compose yourself post-"OMG she's gorgeous" panic attack -- is, "Wow, this woman is smart!"

(We know this, by the way, because we got to spend a few awesome moments one-on-one with the woman herself yesterday at Estee Lauder's beautiful offices overlooking Central Park. Hello, new girl crush!)

Hurley's been working with Estee Lauder since 1995 on their breast cancer awareness efforts. By the way, did you know that Evelyn Lauder co-founded the pink ribbon with SELF almost 20 years ago?

Elizabeth Hurley at Bloomingdales’ “Ready, Set, Pink!” Event Oct. 20

“It’s been amazing to watch the campaign escalate,” Hurley says. Before the pink ribbon, breast cancer wasn’t often discussed, but “it’s astonishing the number of people now who tell me about the run they just did for breast cancer, the walk, the golf event. It’s just phenomenal! And it all started with SELF and Evelyn.”

The lovely Liz — who’s currently guest starring as sexy Nate Archibald’s love interest on Gossip Girl! — told us that more than 115 million pink ribbons have been distributed at Estee Lauder counters to date.

“So many people have personal connections to this disease — there are so many women out there who have lost their lives, so many women who have survived, so many who are still fighting,” Hurley says. “I meet thousands of people every October with a connection to the cause.”

When we asked Hurley the number one thing she wants women to know about breast cancer, she didn’t even have to think:

“We want women to know that there’s a 90 percent chance of surviving breast cancer if you detect it early,” Hurley says. “We hope that takes the fear away and encourages women to get their mammograms.”

Each year, Hurley contributes her own pink product to the Estee Lauder line — always a lipstick or gloss — and she says she loves the process of deciding which shade to go with.

“They give me several options, and I pick my favorite. We do all kinds of things to test the color — put it on and kiss a white card to see what it looks like, test it out on different types of skin,” Hurley says. “And it comes in a pretty case. I use it as a pencil case!”

Hurley couldn’t say goodbye without dishing out a few compliments — which we gladly took, of course! “I love your magazine!” she says. “SELF has always been so supportive, and we’re very grateful for that.”

You can find Elizabeth Hurley’s Pink Ribbon Collection lipstick and case ($24) at Bloomingdale’s, or find a store near you at EsteeLauder.com. The company will contribute 20 percent of every set sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.